What is the message of border security, and who is its intended recipient? This is is the final in a three-part series of three related reflections on the anniversary of SIEV 221, the Christmas Island Boat Tragedy.
Christmas island
Crikey Says: A failure of imagination
A year on from Australia’s deadliest shipwreck since 1890, we revisited our editorial from December 2010, written, as our opening line states, as they were “still pulling bodies from the water”, as pieces of SIEV221 splintered across the rocks of Christmas Island.
One year on: reflecting on the Christmas Island boat tragedy
In the dark reflection of the one-year anniversary of the shipwreck of SIEV 221 – the Christmas Island Boat Tragedy – it’s time to ask ourselves and each other: what have we learned? writes Peter Chambers.
After nine years as a refugee, it’s time for quality of mercy
There is a Tamil man from the north of Sri Lanka, sitting in an Immigration detention facility in Victoria. He has been assessed as a refugee but is not allowed to be released.
More sloppy thinking on asylum seekers
It is possible to deter asylum seeker boat arrivals while meeting and exceeding our humanitarian obligations. But no one has put the policy together yet.
Cost of detention? $113,000 per asylum seeker
Over the last decade we’ve spent over $100,000 detaining each and every boat arrival.
How can we tell if the Malaysian deal works?
It’s unclear whether the Malaysian deal will work and it has risks, but it is the least-worst solution currently available form the major parties.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: No accountability in the press
Crikey readers have their say.
Budget breakdown: trampling on human rights is expensive
Asylum seekers continue to suffer because of poll-driven policies and their fate remains an enormous political problem for Australia. John Menadue, of the Centre for Policy Development, adds up how expensive trampling on human rights really is.
Political snippets: Gillard move straight from the Bolt playbook
In the Sunday newspapers was the story of the federal Labor government having accepted one of Andrew Bolt’s recommendations. And not a word from him about this confirmation of his importance.
Buildings set alight at Villawood, as gov tries to sell new detention centre
Immigration minister Chris Bowen is facing increasing political pressure over the government’s handling of immigration detention today, after nine buildings were burnt down last night by protesting asylum seekers at Villawood Detention Centre.
Eltham: Mandatory detention is morally bankrupt
Our treatment of asylum seekers is akin to the totalitarian dictators that Australia normally stands against. Just because oppressing asylum seekers is popular with voters, doesn’t mean it’s right, declares Ben Eltham.
Government facing crisis of perception over Christmas Island
After a week of violent protests on Christmas Island, it’s clear the federal government is facing a humanitarian crisis with no clear resolution.
AFP struggles to regain control of ‘violent’ Christmas Is protests
Australian Federal Police are struggling to regain control of the ongoing situation on Christmas Island, as detainees continue their week of protests by burning down accommodation tents and throwing rocks.
More tear gas at Christmas Is, as asylum seekers continue to protest
More tear gas was used by Australian Federal Police on detainees on Christmas Island last night, as asylum seekers continue to protest against conditions on the island and the length of time taken to process claims.
Crikey Says: Lay off it, Scott Morrison
We were all collectively horrified by the Christmas Island boat tragedy last December. All sides of politics had the good sense, and the decency, to say so. And now along comes Opposition immigration spokesperson Scott Morrison…
Dumped detention volunteer chief hits back at Scientology claims
For a volunteer group and charity, suspected Scientology influences never play well. Neither do revelations of lax paperwork. But when both of those details combine — and you work in immigration detention — well, you’d better hold the front page.
Christmas Island detention unsustainable, says Ombudsman
The current scale of immigration detention operations on Christmas Island is unsustainable and more asylum seekers should be processed on the mainland, says the Commonwealth Ombudsman in a report released today.
Political snippets: A damning report in polite language
The report of the Commonwealth Ombudsman into the Christmas Island detention centre naturally enough was largely hidden from the public by the coverage of Cyclone Yasi.
Were Customs and the Navy ready for Christmas Island rescue?
Questions have been raised about the preparedness of Australian Navy and Customs personnel in responding to last Wednesday’s Christmas Island asylum-seeker boat wreck.
asylum seekers 
The murky, hard to define truth about asylum seekers
The Government and the Opposition continue to kick around the political boat people football, arguing about push and pull factors and discrepancies in policy. But too often so-called humanitarianism is hijacked and compassion comes and goes, writes Chris Kennett.
Marr: The killer cliffs of Christmas Island
It’s incredible that this boat loaded with asylum seekers was able to get those to shore without being stopped. Why was this boat allowed to get so close to those cliffs? It’s reminiscent of the SIEV X, says David Marr, but this time there are photos and video.
Asylum seeker boat crash at Christmas Island
Crikey media wrap: A boat carrying up to 100 asylum seekers crashed into cliffs at Christmas Island in terrible weather yesterday, killing 28 people, including women and children. It’s a heartbreaking tale, with Christmas Island locals providing distressing first-person accounts.
asylum seekers Julia Gillard in damage control
There is nothing that Julia Gillard personally can do to make the tragic situation on the shores of Christmas Island any better. Her task is simply to try and ensure that yesterday’s deaths do not revive the issue of boat people in a way that seriously damages her government, writes Richard Farmer.
